It was on that day, when I discovered something unusual in my closet. I finally saw a glimmering ray of hope. It fascinated me, I wasn't sure whether I should investigate it or not.
But soon, I drove my hand towards the small-doorknob of the closet. It struck me, perhaps I was too perplexed back then, but now I finally understand what lies ahead of me.
Hello, my name is Okayami, I'm an under-grad from a common university. To be precise, I don't necessarily have any unique hobbies. This is how my decent and fulfilling life turned into chaos and madness, this is my story.
.....
It was monday, the most boring day of the week, many people had the same opinion as me of-course. Anyway, I'm currently on-board with my Student ID in my right hand. The Osaka subway train can reach my Uni within 15 minutes or so.
The clock struck 9:57, I was on this heavily packed train, I could definitely feel the weight of the crowd here. Chatter and patter noises, here and there. But something caught my attention.
There was a girl next to me,with gloomy, dark circles under her eyes, maybe she's sleep deprived?
I didn't pay much attention, but I returned my gaze on the book I was reading, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". It was good, my taste towards literature was mostly classic and old, but nowadays everyone uses E-books, but I find that bland and dis-tasteful. Anyway, I continued reading.
It was after a while that I felt a strange sensation,the girl touched my left shoulder, I was taken aback by this. I swiftly turned my head towards her direction,but to my surprise nothing had happened, or perhaps it looked like so.
So..? Nothing happened huh…?
The train continued to move. I decided to stop thinking too much of it, I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me. Maybe I was too caught up in my head. After a while, the train came to halt. A synthetic robotic female voice gave a command for the people to get ready and step away since the doors were going to open soon. Finally,the train stopped. I rushed out immediately for the smell of fresh air, a breeze. After a few seconds of bliss, I started walking towards the nearby exit to walk for my Uni, it was just 40 meters away, I feel satisfied when I walk towards my destination; and of-course it was healthy too.
Soon something caught my eye, the strange girl which was on the train was walking in the same direction as me, I paid no attention to her. After walking for a while she seemed to have parted ways and walked into the city crowd. I continued walking, but to me, everything was strange, I have been feeling a sense of exhaustion ever since I was touched by that strange girl.
"What the hell is going on with me? Why am I suddenly perspiring?"
"Anyway, I have to catch up, or I'll be late!"
With those thoughts in my mind, I reached my Uni.
I calmed down quickly. The day went on without any hurdles.
.....
It was about 5 PM soon, a droplet of water fell on my head- it was going to rain soon.
I was lucky, I had a spare umbrella with me. Soon, I hurried to the departmental store, I decided to have vegetable stew tonight.So, I picked up the necessary vegetables and condiments and left the store.
I pushed the doorknob, my room was as musty as ever, same old walls, same old paint, I rented my room for around 6,000 Don's*, I got this room two years ago, it's a decent room.
(AN:*** Don's is the currency of this world.)
Feeling pretty optimistic, I left the groceries on my table, and went straight to the shower.
After showering, I started preparing my stew, after it was done, I finally indulged myself in the food. Soon, I was cleaning my dishes, but I noticed something strange, rather paradoxical,
A carrot- a carrot was lying on the floor!
"Haven't I used all of them?"
slowly walked over and picked it up- but soon, very soon, very very soon, my whole mind and body went blank! I was scared for my life for the first time in my life! It was the first time in my life that I've felt this anxious and scared, an indescribable amount of pressure was on me, my shoulders, arms, hips, legs, my neck, everything became a mess, I finally realized that I was already on the floor, lying on my stomach; and soon my consciousness drifted away, my eyelids were drooping already.
Time passed,but I was already in a dimension, A "Dream world", I could practically look at every single dream that I've ever had, they were all in frames, suitably that they could fit in the palms of my hands, some were miniscule and some were humongous, but nonetheless, I found an interesting dream event that I wanted to look at, I pulled it closer to my face, it was small.
Immediately the world flashed!!
"You have obtained a memory, commencing Playground now." said a voice, I couldn't discern if it was a male or a female, I am stunned with everything that is happening right now.
"What the hell-" as soon as those words slipped, my entire field of vision was covered in a childhood memory of mine. I was in my childhood bedroom, there were books everywhere, clutter of toys,crayons,drawings,blank sheets.There was also my bed; it was two feet higher than me.It seems that I've shrunken down to the size of a 5 year old.
"So,I'm in my childhood body?"
I quickly scanned the entire room in a glance.
Nothing has changed, my room was always like this, but there was a glowing light in the closet. I rushed and opened it.
"{You have successfully completed Dream Playground sequencing.}" said the same voice as earlier, in order to completely obtain your rewards, please open the Menu.
"Menu?? What menu?!"
My dream ended abruptly.
Too many questions but no answers.
"What the hell is going on?"
The weird occurrences and strange events which remained only as questions were now starting to haunt me.
"Calm down… I have to analyze what strange events occurred in order."
Firstly, there was the girl- The weird one on the train.
Secondly, I experienced a panic attack.
And lastly, I stumbled upon this "Dream world" and "Dream playground sequencing"
"Everything is a mess, Dammit!!"
No matter how much my brain wanted to rationalize the situation it was futile.
Soon, I woke up to a sound.
Ding-Ding!...Ding-Ding…!
It was my doorbell.
I slowly get up and walked to the hallway, I grabbed the doorknob.
"Who's there?"